Undoubtedly as a new or young Christian, you want to know your next step in your spiritual life.
Where can you go to find that next step? Furthermore, what do we mean by your spiritual life?
What are the seven areas that make up each person’s spiritual life? And most importantly, how can these next steps be tailored to your specific needs?
Binmin is a resource ministry for new and young Christians wanting to find that next step.
In particular, Binmin will help you:
- Increase your Bible knowledge
- Mature in your faith
- Deepen your intimacy with God
- Defend and share the Christian faith more effectively
- Help you to discard your emotional baggage
- Effectively engage with our culture
In brief, our ministry resources cover seven essential areas of your spiritual life.
The Stats on the Spiritual Life for Young Christians
In the light of Christian researcher George Barna's work, we have reason to worry. He claims that only two percent of young Jesus followers live a Christian lifestyle. This lack of commitment is discouraging.
To clarify these findings, an overwhelming number of self-proclaimed Christians:
- Don’t know how actually to follow Jesus
- Or have chosen not to pursue living like Jesus
Given these points, we ask, “What caused this uncoupling between practice and profession?”
For one thing, perhaps Christians are stressing evangelism without the importance of spiritual growth. Also, we may be neglecting the vast resources Christians have to deepen their faith.
7 Areas of Spiritual Life
Binmin provides essential resources in seven areas of the spiritual life:
- Bible Knowledge
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Discipleship
- Soul Care
- Apologetics (Pre-Evangelism)
- Evangelism
- Cultural Engagement
Here’s a quick summary of how each area helps you achieve your next step in your spiritual life.
1. Bible Knowledge Broadens Spiritual Life
The first area in spiritual life development is Bible knowledge.
In effect, reading and studying the Bible in its proper context is essential. For instance, it teaches us who God is and what he expects of his children.
The Bible contains everything you need to live a godly and contented life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Basically, it protects us from wrong understandings of God and the world. Further, it keeps us from the pains and defeats of our personal sin.
Above all, the Bible is God's Word to human beings. It’s not one book but analogous to a library of sixty-six books.
Overall, it is divided into two “testaments.” In effect, forty different authors wrote it in three languages. Lastly, it was written on three different continents over 1,500 years.
Despite the Bible's diversity, it’s impossible to ignore the miraculous unity. It’s important to remember within its pages with Jesus at the center. For instance, Christ is predicted in the Old Testament and manifested in the New Testament.
In the final analysis, the Bible's miraculous unity rests on its divine Author, God. God, through the Holy Spirit, inspired each of the individual authors.
To conclude this section, make sure you join a local church that holds the Bible in high esteem. Specifically, join a church and Bible study that reinforces your growth in this area.
2. Spiritual Disciplines
Secondly, the spiritual disciplines develop a more intimate relationship with God.
Spiritual disciplines are Bible-prescribed devotional and physical practices. They help us depend on the Holy Spirit and God's Word to mature our spiritual life.
Most importantly, they become habits that transform our thoughts, speech, and behavior.
In addition, these disciplines keep us from the pull of sin—specifically, our selfish hearts, conformity to the world, and spiritual forces of darkness. Or to rephrase it, the “flesh” (Rom. 6:12); the “world” (James 4:4); and the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).
In particular, what are some of these disciplines?
- Devotional Bible reading with meditation on God's Word (Ps. 119:15-16)
- Prayer (1 Thess. 5:17)
- Worship (Ps. 119:97-98)
- Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18)
- Persevering through challenges (Rom. 5:3-4)
These practices take time and require concerted dedication, self-discipline, and effort (1 Tim. 4:7). But it’s never too late to start.
3. Discipleship Grows Spiritual Life in Ourselves and Others
Thirdly, discipleship means following Jesus. In particular, it means that Jesus calls you to:
- Become more like him (see Rom. 8:28-29)
- By obeying his teaching and lifestyle found in the Bible (see John 14:21)
For this purpose, you need to be a member of a church. Specifically, because membership exposes you to other Christians. In this case, more experienced believers within the congregation. And accordingly, they can mentor (1 Cor 11:1), encourage, and keep you accountable in your faith (1 Thess. 5:11).
All in all, being a disciple of Jesus brings has enormous benefits. For instance, disciples receive blessings (John 13:17), peace (John 14:27), happiness (Ps. 1:1), contentment (1 Tim. 6:6), and joy (Acts 13:52).
4. Soul Care Helps With Sin and Suffering
Fourthly, soul care seeks to maintain healthy souls and heal wounded ones. The first thing to remember is humans have a physical body and an immaterial soul (see Gen. 2:7).
In brief, your soul is your "spiritual" self. For instance, it defines what you think about, how you feel, and what you choose to do. In the final analysis, your soul impacts your relationships with God and with others.
In order for souls to stay healthy, they need proper maintenance over time. At length, with appropriate care, our souls develop supernatural love and virtue (a.k.a. the "fruit of the Spirit,” Gal. 5:22-23). But what do we do about an unhealthy soul?
Unquestionably unhealthy souls result from the constant attack of sin. In that case, Christians can counsel hurting brothers and sisters.
To begin with by walking with them. With attention to equipping hurting people with Biblical truth. Not to mention encouraging them to choose to trust in Christ and his Word. In contrast, emotions alone must not lead to hurting people.
5. Apologetics (Pre-Evangelism) Defends the Christian Spiritual Life
Fifthly, apologetics (pre-evangelism) does two things. First, it defends Christianity. Second, it provides reasons to believe in Christianity.
God has commanded every Christian to use our reason (1 Pet. 3:15) to present the "clear" (Rom. 1:20) and "infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3) of Christianity.
In brief, this command means that we can and should think searchingly about our faith. In addition, we ought to know how its truth shines through even complex questions.
On the whole, apologetics or pre-evangelism helps shape your surrounding culture.
For example, it provides intelligent and attractive answers from Scripture to real problems. In the same way, it strengthens our faith. And concurrently increases our confidence in the truthfulness of Christianity.
6. Evangelism Offers the Christian Spiritual Life to Others
The sixth discipling for spiritual life is evangelism. Evangelism tells non-Christians about the “gospel” or good news of Jesus.
To begin with, the gospel tells about Jesus’ death and resurrection for sinners. Even more, the gospel is the overall message of the whole Bible:
- To begin with, how Adam and Eve rebelled against God (Gen. 2). As a result, sin spread to all humans (Rom. 5:12)
- At the same time, that sin has created a gulf between God and humans. Since then, no one can ever cross on our own by just doing good works (Rom. 3:20)
- However, God sent Jesus to earth to make you his own (John 3:16). And by turning away from your sin and placing your faith in Christ, salvation is yours (Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:13).
7. Cultural Engagement Makes a Difference
Seventh, the last discipline is cultural engagement. In general, this refers to Christians influencing the world around us for good and God’s glory. For instance, through giving, creating, and speaking into the surrounding culture.
There are at least seven "streams" of cultural engagement:
- Family
- Church
- Workplace
- Community
- Government
- Education
- The Arts
Whenever your sphere of influence extends, seek to love and worship God above all else. Unquestionably church and biological families take precedent. Nonetheless, your calling and opportunities within the public arena are essential.
In any event, being a Christian within a secular culture can feel intimidating. But it is also an opportunity for lifestyle evangelism.
In other words, seek out sincere and respectful friendships with outsiders. In reality, most outsiders have never met a Christian who lives out their worldview (see 1 John 3:18).
Everyone’s Next Step
New Christians often struggle to find their next steps in their spiritual life. Binmin is a unique ministry.
Specifically, we provide practical and understandable information to meet your needs.
Moreover, our seven different disciplines of the Christian faith are easily accessible.
Accordingly, if you are a struggling believer or just curious, check out more articles and videos from Binmin. On the other hand, if you are not a Christian, we encourage you to view the areas of pre-evangelism and evangelism. These topics explicitly give you reasons to believe and how to become a Christian.
No matter where you are at, we all have a next step to take if we're going to make our spiritual lives more important to us.
